Actress/producer Sandra Thomas shared her experience when she went to church for her relative’s baptism. Sandra’s note concerns the instructions given by the priest in the church.

Sandra shared her experience under the title ‘What is wrong with this country?’

Today, I went to a church to baptise a close relative. Five or six children were being baptised together, and the priest gave some strange instructions on the microphone to them and the crowd.

“The (baptised) baby should not be given to people of other religions for another three days.”

“Do not bathe the child for the next three days. If you want to, you can sit the child in a bowl and wipe it. “

“Some of that water should be preserved for a lifetime. After three days, the bath water should be poured into a river. You should not dispose of that water carelessly anywhere else.”

“The child should believe in the church throughout his life and live according to what the church says. Thank you, Hallelujah! Long live the church and the religion.”

Sandra is from the Kottayam district in Kerala and is the mother of twin daughters. In August 2018, she married businessman Wilson John Thomas at Emmanuel Mar Thoma Church in Edakkara near Nilambur in Malappuram district.

This cult claims to have over 16 lakh followers and is headquartered in Thiruvalla in the Pathanamthitta district. It believes Saint Mar Thoma founded the church.

Baptism is the Christian initiation ritual into Christianity where one (usually babies) is immersed in water three times. Many consider it another version of the ‘Sunnath’ circumcision ritual that removes the foreskin from the human penis. While Muslims perform circumcision at age six, Jews perform it immediately after birth.

Around 45% of the population in Kottayam (40% in neighbouring Pathanamthitta) is Christian. Christians claim baptism is a sin-cleansing ritual begun by Jesus.

Apologists jumped in, claiming such odd rituals exist among all religious denominations. Someone noted that many people follow Christian priests, thinking they don’t have to oppose them, even if they don’t have faith.

Priests have become politicians; it’s a sign of communalism. How a priest himself preaches about religion will dehumanise growing children. The comments say parents and their children should not listen to such nonsense.

Sandra’s baptism and shower comments came when Kerala was battling a severe heat wave. Unlike Hindus, Christians don’t need to bathe before entering a place of worship.